“Would you sell me your car?” is a question complete strangers frequently ask my father, in car parks, gesturing him to roll down his window at a red light, etc.. Small wonder, as it is a well-preserved and well-looked-after specimen of an increasingly popular future classic, a face-lift (in Mercedes-speak MOPF for MOdell-PFlege) Mercedes C-Class sedan in a top-of-the-range “Elegance” trim with all the extras available at the time, minus badging on the boot lid, which means: Askers either don´t even know or can tell from the engine noise, it´s the top of the range C280 with the silky-smooth V6 that from 1998 succeeded the 2.8 straight-six that AMG tuned into the C36 AMG´s engine, increasing its capacity to 3.6 litres making 280 horsepower. From 1998 the AMG had a 4.3 litre V8 and was named the C43.
Norev, the manufacturer of most Mercedes dealership models, are now closing another gap in their classic Mercedes line-up, offering an almost complete range of different trim levels (Esprit, Elegance and Sport, not the basic Classic, though), in both sedan and estate versions, different colours, trim-specific rims and interiors. And that is where things become difficult. Some are dealership versions, and some are exclusively done for Modelissimo. My (incomplete) sedan range picture shows an onyx-grey Esprit, a silver C36 AMG ( both exclusively made for Modelissimo and limited to 1250 and 1000 pieces, respectively) and a blue Elegance (Dealer Edition). The also available red C36 AMG and a white Elegance, a (Modelissimo-exclusive) red Elegance with tan interior, a silver Esprit estate or (again Modelissimo-exclusive) blue Elegance or black Sport estates are not pictured. All of them are the 1993-1996 (1993-1997 for the AMG) first generation, not the 1997-2000 second, face-lift (MoPf) generation, as ironically the dealership box says.
Modelissimo´s Esprit correctly has no chrome trim on its exterior and shares the same 4-cylinder engine as in the C200 Elegance which aptly gets the additional chrome trim. Only the AMG C36 Sport gets the AMG-tuned inline-six. Most of Norev´s C-Classes are conveniently given the same pre-facelift seat patterns, the Esprit replicating the cloth seat with the refreshingly red “Brighton” colour option on seats and door trim, while the same seats are meant to be the more frequently chosen leather on the Elegance trim. Another seat pattern, more frequently seen on the leather options, is available too. The back of the front seats comes in two versions, with or without pouches. What is the wood veneer in the more up-market Elegance cabin (replicated by Norev in a plain brown), is the Esprit´s “Spirit” design sticker decal on the doors, around the manual gear stick, but, alas, not on the centre console, which remains black. Three pedals in the carpeted footwell and the stick are a one-fits-all manual gearbox solution for all of Norev´s C-Class Mercs.
And this is rather wrong for the C36 AMG, which (safe for some prototypes) all came with an automatic gearbox. That Norev has given it the standard cloth seat option with its checkered “Magnum” pattern on seats and doors is a valid and more interesting choice, even though most buyers opted for the leather instead. Notably, whilst correctly sharing the chrome trim with Elegance cars, Norev gave the C36, the C36-specific AMG-badged front spoiler lip and sportier side skirts, visible rectangular exhaust tips, and wider tires than on the other C classes on AMG monoblock rims. The badging on the boot lid has not been forgotten. Correctly, the lower steering wheel has been given the same ivory colour as the background of the decal gauge cluster behind the glass. Apart from the fact that the gauges awkwardly lean over facing the driver´s torso, Norev has given all its C-Class Mercs this same ivory AMG facia sticker when all the others should really be black.
The gearbox issue begs the question of someone wanting a C36 AMG might not be better off with the old UT Models (= early days AUTOart), some of which are now sold off for cheaper than the Norev, their prices have fallen in the advent of Norev´s release (Modelissimo charges 100 € for each Norev C-Class, I have a 45€ offer for a UT). For comparison, I will use a UT (modified into my dad´s C280 as a Christmas gift).
The general body shape is not bad on either of them, spot-on on both. Hoods and trunks are all on doglegs, neither opening as wide as the original car does (both the boot lid and, spectacularly, the bonnet in its service position open at a 90-degree angle). Advances in the manufacturing process can most clearly be seen in the lights, where Norev clearly is the winner. Not only has it plastic-clear-glass side-markers, albeit pin-mounted, but the UT only has painted pronounced diecast mouldings for it. The UT´s headlamp shape is generally slightly wrong, while Norev´s is correct. While the Norev´s headlamps´ and front indicators´ lenses might be a little too clear, the UT´s are too opaque; with good reason: details inside the actual lights front and rear are much better on the Norev, featuring actual light bulbs, most notably the amber bulbs behind white lenses on the front corners. Side by side the C-Class sedan´s signature rear lights don´t wrap around the corners rounded enough on the UT, creating too sharp edges. The Norev again does that a lot better, while the UT has more adequately smoked the tail lights middle section darker than Norev. What´s absent from both is the headlamp wipers that the sealed resin Otto C36 AMG has.
Badging on the UT´s rear is moulded into the boot lid, with Norev´s metal stickers being the cleaner solution. The UT lacks the automatic antenna stub behind the c-pillar that the Norev has. It is its presence makes the Norevs pre-facelift cars, while its absence marks it as a post-1996 facelift when antennas were moved to the roof. The C36´s production ceased in 1997 and never got this change, so that UT´s omission of it is an oversight. Chrome trim on the UT is shiny chromed plastic inserted into the bodywork while not as shiny chromed mouldings in the Norevs´ bodywork (where applicable). Wheels and rims are the same sizes, but UT correctly embossed “AMG” into the rims whilst Norev didn´t, which begs for a wheel change (with the difficulty that the UT´s are clipped on, the Norev´s screwed on). The Norev´s metal axles are more intricate and mounted onto a plastic chassis on springs, while the UT has no springs and a mere metal bar as a rear axle. On the rectangular exhaust tips, neither of the two has the “AMG” stamp.
The radiator grilles are both plastic plates, but Norev´s has much more depth and is a lot shinier. The hood ornament on the UT is chromed plastic, while metal on the Norev, who kindly supply a reserve ornament with each model. The radiator detail behind the grille is pretty similar with the hood ajar. The engine itself is moulded into the usual rather flat black tray with either silver accents or white paint (e.g. water reservoir) and an air-intake-tube and coolant hose are added as separate parts. The tray is mounted onto three metal pins from underneath the Norev´s engine bay, with OEM stickers further elevating the impression. On the UT´s C36 AMG straight-six engine, mounted on the diecast bottom of the bay as two parts, the actual engine block has a lot more depth and detail (e.g. “3.6” moulded into the air-intake-tube, Mercedes star, AMG logo facing left) and the air filter´s top is correctly sectioned into 9 squares (Norev incorrectly shows 16), while the rest of the bay lacks the wiring and OEM badging on the Norev, and surprisingly includes the mono-arm-windscreen-wiper in a less detailed version. Norev´s C36 engine tray more closely resembles the straight-six of the C280 that the C36 originates from and therefore looks closer to early C36 engines (still lacking the 3.6). [See my attempt of milling a Norev engine tray to take the UT´s engine block/air filter part.]
Moving on to the interior, access to the carpeted cabin of the Norev is through all four doors, while the carpet-less UT, typically for the first four-door models back in the day, only opens the front, windowless doors, the rear doors being mere mould-ins into the bodyshell. That is why the UT´s rear window and rear side windows are one piece of clear plastic with no roof liner in the cabin, while the Norevs have roof liners. In contrast to the UT, the Norevs all have seat belts and buckles, too. The parcel shelf on the Norevs (a separate piece from the cabin tray so that the same cabin can be used for both the sedan and estate) depicts the rear passengers´ headrests in the folded down position, matching the seat design, and has the first-aid-kit-compartment´s lid, indicated by a white-on-green-cross-sticker, engraved into the shelf´s centre. You´ve got to love this attention to detail, totally absent from the UT, that also displays the rear headrests standing with recesses in the parcel shelf for them to be dropped into at the touch of a button by the driver (which is a nice party trick on your rear passengers). On the other end of the cabin, the dashboard, too, is far more detailed, the buttons bearing more print, air vents having more depth, and a no-baby-seat warning sticker on the passenger side. If only Norev had chosen to make that automatic gear-lever option on the center tunnel, which it could have, as the entire gear and center-armrest- assembly is a separate piece mounted onto the tunnel. Similarly mounted extra, the UT correctly has the automatic-gear-version. And that is not the only point the UT can score inside the cabin. It displays the more widely used full leather option, with ruffled leather on the door panels (but without actual door bins that the three-part Norev door panels create) and the wide-spread leather seat option. In direct comparison with Norev´s option of the same seat, the UT seat credibly replicates the creases that leather seats get with use, yet seems somewhat wide and clumsy and does not have the manual seat adjustments or buckles. Norev´s seat´s back moulding is more adequate too, creating much-needed leg room for rear passengers, while the UT creates leg room a W202 passenger can only wish for. And that is another point in which the cabins differ overall: UT´s cabin is too large, while Norev correctly shows, how compact the C-Class W202 is.
Tragically, in an effort to please everyone and make many variants of the first Mercedes C-Class, Norev ends up replicating none entirely correctly. At a budget price-point – RRP is a 110€ and some Mercedes dealers and Modelissimo ask just under 100€ – these are good models when concentrating on one, e.g. the C36 AMG, which could have made it a great model. By comparison, the almost 30-year-old UT C36 AMG holds up rather well in many respects. Neither of them replicating the perfect C36 AMG might be seen as building a case for the sealed resin Otto by some, prompting others to modify what´s available into the best possible all-open-solution. We must not forget, though, that this release is not about making this one, albeit a very desirable top-of-the-range model, but makes a point of covering the well-aged and popular W202 across its wider range. Its fans will buy (and some, like myself, may modify), answering the question of whether they´d sell the result of their efforts with the same resounding “no” with which my father keeps rejecting offers.
Wow, this is truly indepth! Nice work on the updates too! Was the jusice worth the squeeze?
PS – Contact us if the photos require a re-aligment. Thank you for your efforts!
Thank you very much Karsten for the very detailed, thorough and impressive review. You absolutely nailed it! It is always a joy to read reviews like this and is always very nice to learn some general information about cars of the past. Keep up the good work!
Very thorough review.Great job. This generation C class aged vey well indeed. Thinking about how weird and un-Mercedes those rear lights looked when it was presented in 1993.
Great review! Norev should hire you as a consultant for these Mercedes models. Great variety being released by Norev, and I love that they are mixing up the interiors as well. I just bought a Purple e-class wagon from them that I am totally in love with. I do agree though, that a little more accuracy with specs would be appreciated.
Funny thing, Norev actually already released like a dozen various versions (more are apparently on the way) and some are of the original 1993 model while others are the facelifted 1997 model (different front bumper seems to be the only real differentiator).
And besides the AMG versio with a specific engine plastic piece, there are at least 2 different engines represented. It seems most are of the C200 gas model, but the blue elegance estate T-model I’ve gotten is actually a diesel.
I haveen’t been able to pinpoint whether it is the C200 diesel or the C220 diesel (or if there was ever even a visual difference between the two).